Discussions underscore need to improve coordinated patrols, search-and-rescue operations, and information sharing
In a significant step towards strengthening regional maritime security, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Sri Lankan Coast Guard (SLCG) held their 7th Annual High-Level Meeting in Colombo on November 11, 2024. The meeting, led by Director General S. Paramesh of the ICG and Director General Rear Admiral Y.R. Serasinghe of the SLCG, marked a continued commitment by the two nations to collaborate on transnational maritime crime prevention and the broader goal of regional cooperation.

Collaborative Efforts in Maritime Security
The annual high-level dialogue between India and Sri Lanka’s Coast Guards serves as a strategic forum to address regional maritime challenges. These include drug trafficking, marine pollution, mariner safety, capacity-building programs, and the adoption of best practices. Both countries have long recognized the mutual benefits of coordinated efforts, especially in response to transnational threats and challenges unique to the region.

The foundation for these ongoing annual meetings was laid in 2018 when both coast guard agencies signed a Memorandum of Understanding, institutionalising cooperation between the two maritime forces. In keeping with this framework, this year’s discussions underscored the need to tackle maritime crimes and improve coordinated patrols, search-and-rescue operations, and information sharing.

Addressing Regional Maritime Issues
This year’s dialogue comes on the heels of recent diplomatic engagements aimed at enhancing maritime security and protecting regional interests. The two Coast Guards emphasized the need for close coordination on issues of illegal fishing, the safety of mariners, and environmental concerns such as marine pollution. With drug trafficking in the Indian Ocean region posing significant risks, the discussions also focused on combating this particular menace through information sharing and joint enforcement actions.

The meeting concluded with a strong commitment from both sides to strengthen cooperative mechanisms, enhance training exchanges, and deploy additional resources as needed to effectively counter maritime threats. The eighth annual meeting will be hosted by India in 2025.

The high-level meeting took place just a week after the 34th India-Sri Lanka Navy & Coast Guard International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) meeting on November 6, 2024. This earlier meeting, co-chaired by Rear Admiral Ravi Kumar Dhingra of the Indian Navy and Rear Admiral S.J. Kumara of the Sri Lankan Navy, was held onboard the Sri Lankan Naval Ship SLNS Vijayabahu in Palk Bay. 

Discussions at the IMBL meeting focused on bolstering maritime security in Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar, as well as addressing the longstanding issue of fishermen straying across territorial waters.

The Fishermen Issue: A Persistent Challenge
One of the most pressing issues discussed in recent meetings between the two nations’ maritime forces is the fishermen dispute in the narrow Palk Strait, which separates Tamil Nadu from northern Sri Lanka. Fishermen from both sides of the maritime boundary often inadvertently—or deliberately—cross into each other’s waters, leading to frequent detentions and escalating tensions.

The issue is deeply complex, involving historical rights, territorial claims, and economic survival. 

As both nations work towards long-term solutions, the role of the Coast Guards remains critical in managing immediate incidents and reducing the frequency of such conflicts. The bilateral Coast Guard meetings serve as an important forum to review progress, refine operational protocols, and ensure the safety and well-being of fishing communities on both sides.

Beyond addressing immediate challenges, the annual ICG-SLCG meeting also emphasised a forward-looking approach. The two countries have resolved to increase joint training sessions and capacity-building programs aimed at enhancing each force’s capabilities. Such efforts are not only instrumental in addressing specific threats like drug trafficking and illegal fishing but also in building resilience against broader security threats posed by non-state actors in the Indian Ocean region.

The annual meetings also serve as a platform for both Coast Guards to share best practices, improve resource management, and ensure effective responses to natural disasters and other emergencies. Given the increasing maritime traffic in the Indian Ocean, such collaboration is vital for ensuring safe navigation routes and protecting the region’s valuable marine ecosystem.